The Head of the Oireachtas' Public Accounts Committee is reportedly coming under pressure from the the Garda Commissioner and the Data Protection Commissioner to return a box of files on penalty points, sent to him by a whistleblower.

It's understood John McGuinness has been told the box contains confidential information that shouldn't be made public.

Deputy McGuinness was given the box of files a fortnight ago. It contains information about the cancellation of penalty points. Some of this material has already come to light through a report from the Comptroller & Auditor General. An internal garda review was also carried out on penalty points. The box is said to contain new information, particularly about the issue of penalty point re-offenders.

The information was given to John McGuinness over concerns surrounding the millions of euro that had been lost to the State through the cancellation of points.

The PAC is taking legal advice on how to proceed, but could call all of the parties involved to appear before the committee for questioning.

Michael Clifford from the Irish Examiner spoke to Newstalk's Breakfast earlier: